Secure Code Review Guide
Overview
Welcome to the Secure Code Review Guide. This module provides a comprehensive deep dive into the methodology, practice, and tooling required to perform effective secure code reviews. It transitions security from a reactive testing phase into a proactive defect-discovery phase during the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
Prerequisites
- Basic understanding of web application vulnerabilities (OWASP Top 10).
- Familiarity with reading code in modern languages (Python, Node.js, Go, Java).
- Basic knowledge of version control systems (Git) and pull request workflows.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this guide, you will be able to:
- Establish a structured Secure Code Review methodology.
- Identify critical security flaws in authentication, data handling, and cryptography through manual inspection.
- Distinguish between vulnerable and secure code patterns across multiple languages.
- Leverage Automated Code Review Tools (SAST) like Semgrep and configure custom rules.
- Perform a hands-on review of a vulnerable pull request and provide actionable remediation advice.
Navigation
- 01 Introduction: Secure Code Review methodology, manual vs SAST code review, code review checklists.
- 02 Reviewing Authentication and Authorization: Code patterns for broken auth, weak password hashes, JWT verification bugs, BOLA/IDOR.
- 03 Reviewing Data Handling and Injection: Code patterns for SQLi, Command Injection, SSRF, XSS, unsafe deserialization.
- 04 Reviewing Crypto and Secrets: Code patterns for hardcoded secrets, weak AES-ECB, hardcoded IVs, weak random generators.
- 05 Automated Code Review Tools: Semgrep custom rule creation, SonarQube rule configuration, pre-commit hooks setup.
- 06 Hands-on Lab: Self-contained Python Lab with vulnerable PR diffs, reviewer findings, and hardened refactored code.
- 07 References: OWASP guidelines, CERT standards, and external documentation.